As with most things in life, there is really nothingfree. The two most claimed advantages to baglessvacuum cleaners were lower operating costs and better performance. As far as the cost issues go,all vacuums must filter the exhausting air they useto carry the dirt into the collection area, as theywould otherwise simply pick the dirt up from the floor and spit it right back out.

Whether you have a bagless HEPA filter, a pre-filter,or disposable bags, they all need to be changed atsome point. With the average life of a vacuumcleaner, you can expect to spend the same on eithercollection system for filters, but if you value yourtime, you can expect to spend quite a bit more on a bagless system.

To keep your bagless vacuum cleaner operating atpeak levels, you'll need to empty the dirt containerwhen it is full and perform regular maintenance onthe filter. The type of filter the vacuum uses willdetermine just how much service will be required,although most use a pleated HEPA filter.

CleaningEven though the claim of better airflow performancewith bagless vacuums is true in a sense, over thelife of the vacuum you'll get the same, or maybeeven better performance from a bagged vacuum cleanersystem.

With bagged vacuum cleaners, the performance willstart at 100% with each new bag then slowly dropas the bag starts to fill. Just how quickly theperformance drops depends on how well the bag isconstructed. With the average vacuum and the averagebag, you may replace the bag every 3 - 4 weeks with 90% of performance the first week, 70% inweeks 2 and 3, then 50% of less in the fourth week.

The short cycle will insure that you get a 100%peak cleaning every 3 or 4 weeks from the vacuumcleaner. The filtered cyclonic machines havefilters that are designed to last 6 months, 12months, and even up to 18 months before they needto be replaced.

PetsIf you have dogs or cats, whether you see it ornot, almost all domestic animals shed their furon a regular basis throughout their lives. Petowners often wonder as well, which vacuum is thebest to remove pet hair.

For pretty much the same reasons that fur sticks to the carpet, it will also stick to your baglessvacuum's pleated filter cartridge. The fur willreduce the performance of airflow, and is also a pain in the neck to clean off the filter.

Over time, the fiber that makes up the filter canretain odor from pets, even if you clean the filter well. If your filter requires replacingonly once a year, you could end up with a vacuumthat spits odors that will stink up your house pretty bad.

Bagged upThose vacuums that use bags will often providefor neat disposal of a full bag. There are somebrands such as BOSCH that actually engineer bagdisposal into the system. With BOSCH canistervacuums, the replacement of bags is a singledust free step. The new mega filt bags have abuilt in closure system that upon removal,will slide shut and trap the dirt and debris inside of the bag, making removal quick and easy.

Still, there are many people out there who lovebagless machines. Bagless vacuums will continueat a slow place to gain market share, and peoplewill continue to buy them. For many, a baglessvacuum can be the right vacuum to have.

Bags are the technology of the past, while baglessis the technology of the future. There are manyreasons as to why you should go bagless. Forthe vacuums of tomorrow, cylinder and baglessis the key.

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Bagged Versus Bagless

As with most things in life, there is really nothingfree. The two most claimed advantages to baglessvacuum cleaners were lower operating costs and better performance. As far as the cost issues go,all vacuums must filter the exhausting air they useto carry the dirt into the collection area, as theywould otherwise simply pick the dirt up from the floor and spit it right back out.

Whether you have a bagless HEPA filter, a pre-filter,or disposable bags, they all need to be changed atsome point. With the average life of a vacuumcleaner, you can expect to spend the same on eithercollection system for filters, but if you value yourtime, you can expect to spend quite a bit more on a bagless system.

To keep your bagless vacuum cleaner operating atpeak levels, you'll need to empty the dirt containerwhen it is full and perform regular maintenance onthe filter. The type of filter the vacuum uses willdetermine just how much service will be required,although most use a pleated HEPA filter.

CleaningEven though the claim of better airflow performancewith bagless vacuums is true in a sense, over thelife of the vacuum you'll get the same, or maybeeven better performance from a bagged vacuum cleanersystem.

With bagged vacuum cleaners, the performance willstart at 100% with each new bag then slowly dropas the bag starts to fill. Just how quickly theperformance drops depends on how well the bag isconstructed. With the average vacuum and the averagebag, you may replace the bag every 3 - 4 weeks with 90% of performance the first week, 70% inweeks 2 and 3, then 50% of less in the fourth week.

The short cycle will insure that you get a 100%peak cleaning every 3 or 4 weeks from the vacuumcleaner. The filtered cyclonic machines havefilters that are designed to last 6 months, 12months, and even up to 18 months before they needto be replaced.

PetsIf you have dogs or cats, whether you see it ornot, almost all domestic animals shed their furon a regular basis throughout their lives. Petowners often wonder as well, which vacuum is thebest to remove pet hair.

For pretty much the same reasons that fur sticks to the carpet, it will also stick to your baglessvacuum's pleated filter cartridge. The fur willreduce the performance of airflow, and is also a pain in the neck to clean off the filter.

Over time, the fiber that makes up the filter canretain odor from pets, even if you clean the filter well. If your filter requires replacingonly once a year, you could end up with a vacuumthat spits odors that will stink up your house pretty bad.

Bagged upThose vacuums that use bags will often providefor neat disposal of a full bag. There are somebrands such as BOSCH that actually engineer bagdisposal into the system. With BOSCH canistervacuums, the replacement of bags is a singledust free step. The new mega filt bags have abuilt in closure system that upon removal,will slide shut and trap the dirt and debris inside of the bag, making removal quick and easy.

Still, there are many people out there who lovebagless machines. Bagless vacuums will continueat a slow place to gain market share, and peoplewill continue to buy them. For many, a baglessvacuum can be the right vacuum to have.

Bags are the technology of the past, while baglessis the technology of the future. There are manyreasons as to why you should go bagless. Forthe vacuums of tomorrow, cylinder and baglessis the key.